I heard the garage door rise and my heart sank, but Will didn’t move like I thought he would. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against my shoulder, breathing softly. My hands hung around the back of his neck, trembling. A minute later, Nathaniel and Lauren walked in, awkwardly unbuttoning their coats and storing them away in the closet. Lauren gave Will and me a knowing, apologetic look and tightened her mouth. Heat flushed in my cheeks, but I was grateful and felt braver when Will didn’t step away from me. He never showed me affection in front of anyone, so his simple nearness would be the best I’d get.

“Sorry,” Lauren said. “We interrupted, didn’t we?”

I tucked my hair behind my ear, physically aware of how swollen and numb my lips were from kissing him. “No. You’re fine. I was just leaving.” I started to slide off the counter, and Will took my hands to help me. After a moment, he took a reluctant step back as if it pained him to do so, and he buttoned his shirt slowly. I grabbed a dish towel and started to mop up the mess of orange juice.

“Stay awhile, Ell,” she offered with a smile. “I never get to see you.”

The offer was tempting since I really, really didn’t want to go home and face my mom’s wrath just then. I looked up at Will, hoping he would agree and then it would be settled.

He touched my arm. “You should stay.”

My gaze fell to his hand on my skin. “All right.”

“Good,” Lauren said as she walked toward me and took my hand. She pulled me away from Will, who let his hand fall, and I suddenly felt cold. Lauren led me through the kitchen, and I glanced at Nathaniel. He didn’t look happy. Just before Lauren took me into the living room, I glanced over my shoulder. Nathaniel and Will were now locked in a staring match. Will shoved his hands into his pockets, and Nathaniel beckoned with a sideways nod of his head for Will to follow him out into the garage. When they disappeared, I felt a terrible hitch in my gut and wondered if whatever had just ignited between Will and me was already dead.

18

THE TV VOLUME WAS SET LOW, AND I DIDN’T KNOW what show we were watching or even what channel it was on. I only stared blankly at the screen. My eyes drifted out of focus and I was hypnotized by the flashes of light and color, the dull roar of voices and music filling my head with white noise. My name was mixed in there somehow, and it took me a moment to realize Lauren was trying to get my attention.

“Ell,” she said. “Earth to Ellie. You there?”

I took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m here.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied, but I wasn’t sure if it was a lie or not. “Where were you guys this morning?”

Her smile faded. “Nathaniel and I met my parents for Sunday brunch. We do it every week.”

I looked at her, happy to turn away from the TV. “Is he your boyfriend then?”

Her gaze fell away. “Yes. For four years now.”

“Wow,” I said, my eyes widening. “Does your family know what he is?”

“No. Not yet, at least.”

I would never be able to tell my parents about Will’s true nature either. “Do they know what you are?”

“My mom does,” she said. “Her grandmother was a psychic also, so she knows all about reapers but can’t see into the Grim like us. I’ll have to tell my family the truth about Nathaniel someday. They’ll eventually notice that he doesn’t age. My family hates all reapers, even the angelic. Honestly, I can’t blame my mother for hating them. If I had to watch my child go through what I did when I was young, I’d hate them all too.”

Since she didn’t elaborate, I wouldn’t ask. I didn’t like talking about the horrors I saw either. “You must love him.”

“I do, so I understand everything, Ellie.”

“Do you think you two will have kids someday?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Humans and reapers can’t have children together. Something in the genetics, I believe.”

“That’s sad,” I murmured, thinking of more than just Nathaniel and Lauren.

“It’s all right,” she said. “Who knows what will happen in the future, anyway?” She gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Nathaniel isn’t going to kill him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

My doubt sat heavily in my stomach. “He looked furious.”

“Not so much angry,” she assured me. “He’s worried about what both of you have been going through. He knows Will has been in love with you for a very long time. He understands, so don’t think that he doesn’t.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “I understand, too. I’m here if you need me.”

The sound of angry shouts made us both jump. We stared at each other.

“You don’t think I know that?” Will’s voice hammered through the walls.

Lauren’s hand tightened around mine. The shouts died down, the rest of the argument audible from this distance, and Lauren and I sat in silence for a few minutes as she held my hand securely.

“Everything will be okay,” she said, and released my hand. “Will needs to talk to Nathaniel. He’s been very troubled lately. He needs help, and Nathaniel has been there for him forever.”

I nodded. “They’re practically brothers.”

She paused thoughtfully. “Nathaniel’s taken care of Will. It’s always been the hardest when he doesn’t have you around to give him focus. But Will was so young when his mother died, and Nathaniel has been his only family. Nathaniel is always here when you can’t be, and he offers Will guidance, which is what he needs most right now. He needs to be told that it’ll all be okay.”